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Salinity Control Opportunities +7,,,! salinity" Reclamation has focused its planning efforts in the San Juan River Unit by !preparing a planning report/environmental assessment for the Hammo~d area. A final report and finding of no significant impact was complet$d in 1994, N Ul t- -.J Preliminary review of data available in the Hogback Project area show heavy s~lt loading, but the mechanisms are just beginning to be explored, Ground water accruing to the San Juan alluvium in this vicinity has salinity concentrations of more than 15,000 mgIL. Other salt sources may include ~bandoned gas or oil wells, blowdown water from powerplants, and wastewater from a petroleum refinery, Reclamation and USGS are cooperat:!vely investigating this area to identify sources of salt and potential salinity control opportunities. i )t Recent \\later quality data has shown that NIIP irrigated area ground-water return flows are surfacing in Gallegos and Ojo Amarillo Washes, tributaries to the Sap Juan River. These return flows have salinities of about 3,000 mgyL and are typical of irrigation return flows, This water could be collected for disposal or industrial use alternatives. These sources of salt will be e'l!aluated for treatment in future studies, "'1 't!: ~l " j 1 " :;j " '\1 1 ;) ,~ , '~' .'., :-1, Salinity ihvestigations were completed by USDA in the San Juan River Basin ea~t of the Hogback. It was determined that a USDA onfarm salinity control pJ/Ogram is not feasible in this area, In 1992, investigations were initiated in tjJ.e San Juan River Basin west of the Hogback to determine if an onfart\l program was feasible. The study area lies within the boundaries of the Nayajo Indian Nation. This study was completed in 1993, The report recommertded that further study be done in the area, , ,~ :1 - ,'i , i , -~ , j Sinbad Valley Unit The Sinb~d Valley Unit is located in western Colorado, south of the town of Gateway., Salt Creek drains Sinbad Valley and has been identified by the Bureau of;Lahd Management (BLM) as a point source of saline ground water contributing an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 tons of salt per year to the Colorado lltiver System, Saline ground-water discharges from the Paradox member of the Hermosa Formation into the alluvium in Salt Creek through a series o~springs and seeps near the mouth of the Sinbad Valley. 8-9 Uinta B$in Unit The Uinta;Basin is located in northeastern Utah, The area includes portions of, Duchesne and Uinta Counties and is situated between the Uinta Mountains' on the north and the Tavaputs Plateau on the south, The principal communities within the area are Duchesne, Roosevelt, and Vernal.